Letter: Countryside March

THE Countryside March has been funded by contributions from the thousands of people taking part and by the Countryside Alliance ("US shooting lobby funds countryside march", 26 February). The Countryside Alliance is funded by its members' annual subscriptions, by contributions from the hunting community via the Campaign for Hunting, and by donations and fundraising events. One of these events was the recent auction at Sotheby's in New York.

While it is true that the American Masters of Foxhounds Association gave a generous donation to the Campaign for Hunting, as a gesture of solidarity, for which we are most grateful, there is no record of any contribution from the "US shooting lobby".

Similarly there is no truth whatsoever in the suggestion that the march has been "hijacked" by anyone, for political or any other reasons. The Countryside Alliance is not linked to any political party it is a moot point whether the country community is more distrustful of the present government than it was of the last.

What is important is that the most law-abiding section of our community is concerned, frightened, and getting very angry, and it should be clearly understood that the one issue that focuses this anger is the threat to hunting.

Lord MANCROFT

Deputy Chairman

Countryside Alliance

London SE11